Spencer County, Kentucky

Spencer County
Spencer County
County
	Spencer County Courthouse in Taylorsville.
	Location within the U.S. state of Kentucky
	Kentucky's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 38°02′N 85°19′W / 38.03°N 85.32°W
Country	United States
State	Kentucky
Founded	1824
Named for	Spier Spencer
Seat	Taylorsville
Largest city	Taylorsville
Area
• Total	192 sq mi (500 km2)
• Land	187 sq mi (480 km2)
• Water	5.0 sq mi (13 km2) 2.6%
Population (2020)
• Total	19,490
• Estimate (2023)	20,531
• Density	100/sq mi (39/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts	2nd, 4th
Website	www.spencercountyky.gov

Spencer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of the 2020 census, the total population was 19,490.^[1] Its county seat is Taylorsville.^[2] The county was founded in 1824^[3] and named for Spier Spencer.

Spencer County is part of the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY—IN Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Taylorsville Lake, located primarily within Spencer County, serves as a major economic resource for the area. Spencer was a dry county until 2009 when the county's residents voted to overturn the ban on alcohol sales. From 2000 to 2005, Spencer County ranked 19th out of all U.S. counties in percent growth, with a 33% increase.

History

Spencer County was formed in January 1824, by the 32nd Kentucky General Assembly. The land that now makes up Spencer County was taken from Bullitt County, Shelby County, and Nelson County. Spencer County became Kentucky's 77th county. The county was named for Kentucky's Captain Spier Spencer, who fought and died in the Battle of Tippecanoe.^[4]

Later that year, in December 1824, Taylorsville was made the county seat. In 1829, the city was incorporated.^[5]

During the American Civil War, the courthouse at Taylorsville was burned by Confederate guerrillas in January 1865, but the county's records were saved.^[6]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 192 square miles (500 km²), of which 187 square miles (480 km²) is land and 5.0 square miles (13 km²) (2.6%) is water.^[7]

Adjacent counties

Shelby County (north)
Anderson County (east)
Nelson County (south)
Bullitt County (west)
Jefferson County (northwest)

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1830	6,812		—
1840	6,581		−3.4%
1850	6,842		4.0%
1860	6,188		−9.6%
1870	5,956		−3.7%
1880	7,040		18.2%
1890	6,760		−4.0%
1900	7,406		9.6%
1910	7,567		2.2%
1920	7,785		2.9%
1930	6,606		−15.1%
1940	6,757		2.3%
1950	6,157		−8.9%
1960	5,680		−7.7%
1970	5,488		−3.4%
1980	5,929		8.0%
1990	6,801		14.7%
2000	11,766		73.0%
2010	17,061		45.0%
2020	19,490		14.2%
2023 (est.)	20,531	^[8]	5.3%
U.S. Decennial Census^[9] 1790-1960^[10] 1900-1990^[11] 1990-2000^[12] 2010-2020^[1]

As of the census of 2000, there were 11,766 people, 4,251 households, and 3,358 families residing in the county. The population density was 63 per square mile (24/km²). There were 4,555 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile (9.3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.50% White, 1.13% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.27% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. 1.12% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,251 households, out of which 38.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.90% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.00% were non-families. 17.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.00% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 33.50% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 9.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $47,042, and the median income for a family was $52,038. Males had a median income of $36,638 versus $24,196 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,848. About 7.70% of families and 8.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.90% of those under age 18 and 10.50% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Spencer County Public Schools comprises six schools: Spencer County High School, Spencer County Middle School, Spencer County Elementary School, Taylorsville Elementary School, Hillview Academy, and Spencer County Preschool.^[13]

Communities

City

Taylorsville (county seat)

Census-designated place

Elk Creek

Other unincorporated places

Politics

United States presidential election results for Spencer County, Kentucky^[14]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	8,737	76.42%	2,530	22.13%	166	1.45%
2016	7,196	75.63%	1,921	20.19%	398	4.18%
2012	5,726	67.92%	2,549	30.23%	156	1.85%
2008	5,378	66.82%	2,519	31.30%	152	1.89%
2004	4,816	70.60%	1,970	28.88%	36	0.53%
2000	3,150	66.01%	1,554	32.56%	68	1.42%
1996	1,614	47.92%	1,404	41.69%	350	10.39%
1992	1,305	41.21%	1,383	43.67%	479	15.12%
1988	1,368	54.61%	1,121	44.75%	16	0.64%
1984	1,456	61.38%	910	38.36%	6	0.25%
1980	935	42.50%	1,216	55.27%	49	2.23%
1976	742	37.42%	1,209	60.97%	32	1.61%
1972	1,120	68.75%	481	29.53%	28	1.72%
1968	733	41.89%	564	32.23%	453	25.89%
1964	525	26.87%	1,422	72.77%	7	0.36%
1960	1,134	51.97%	1,048	48.03%	0	0.00%
1956	896	42.32%	1,214	57.35%	7	0.33%
1952	723	36.02%	1,283	63.93%	1	0.05%
1948	493	26.90%	1,298	70.81%	42	2.29%
1944	646	30.82%	1,443	68.85%	7	0.33%
1940	567	24.65%	1,728	75.13%	5	0.22%
1936	638	27.81%	1,647	71.80%	9	0.39%
1932	736	29.26%	1,773	70.50%	6	0.24%
1928	1,565	62.20%	947	37.64%	4	0.16%
1924	961	41.95%	1,320	57.62%	10	0.44%
1920	1,102	33.88%	2,135	65.63%	16	0.49%
1916	591	31.62%	1,271	68.00%	7	0.37%
1912	271	17.10%	1,052	66.37%	262	16.53%

References

^ ^a ^b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
^ E., Kleber, John; Kentucky, University Press of; Policy, Institute for Regional Analysis and Public; Library, Camden-Carroll; University, Morehead State (2000). "The Kentucky Encyclopedia". www.kyenc.org. Retrieved July 6, 2018. {{cite web}}: |last3= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ The Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society, Volume 1. Kentucky State Historical Society. 1903. p. 37.
^ Spencer County History
^ KY:Historical Society - Historical Marker Database - Search for Markers
^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved August 20, 2014.
^ "Our Schools". Spencer County Public Schools. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved July 6, 2018.